Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Misfortune: Starting from the Celestial Master’s Mansion
Chapter 278: The long-lost bad fortune

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Although in the presence of the Empress, Xiao Xueting remained relatively casual and curiously asked, “Your Majesty, aren’t the people from Xiao Meng’s side part of the Mortal Dao Nation?”

The Empress resumed reviewing memorials and casually replied, “Not entirely impossible. It’s worth testing for now.”

Xiao Xueting acknowledged the response.

She then added, “Your Majesty, there is another matter, though the information has yet to be verified.”

The Empress: “What is it?”

Xiao Xueting: “Chen Yi, the expelled disciple of Tianshi Mansion, was reportedly seen at the eastern seashore, but his whereabouts have since become unknown.”

The Empress: “No matter, I already know where he is now.”

Xiao Xueting: “The people from the Mortal Dao Nation are also searching for him. While he is evading both the imperial court and Tianshi Mansion’s pursuit, he is also avoiding the Mortal Dao Nation. His relationship with them appears to differ somewhat from what was previously anticipated.”

The Empress: “Fu Dongsen, Zhou Peng, and the others were too superficial in their assessment, missing an opportunity. Now, making up for it will require far greater effort.”

In the imperial capital, Luoyang, upon receiving the Empress’s decree from his younger sister Xiao Xueting, Xiao Chunhui immediately sought out Meng Shaojie.

“Teacher.” Meng Shaojie saluted Xiao Chunhui.

Xiao Chunhui smiled and nodded, “Qingyan, no need for formalities.”

After first inquiring about Meng Shaojie’s studies, he went straight to the point, “I have something here—try passing it to that mysterious figure.”

Having done this before, Meng Shaojie was now much calmer about it.

He was aware that he served as a bridge between Xiao Chunhui and the enigmatic master of the dark-side universe of the Heavenly Book.

Oddly enough, this made him feel more at ease when dealing with that mysterious existence.

Meng Shaojie took a jade tablet from Xiao Chunhui’s hand, examining it curiously. “Sir, is this also from the ancient Talismanic Branch?”

Xiao Chunhui nodded. “This item is called the ‘Twenty-Eight Rhythms of the Constellations.’ Her Majesty accidentally came upon it and stored it in the inner treasury. Within the jade tablet are sealed ancient Daoist talismanic chants, passed down from the ancient Talismanic Branch. It should be of interest to the other party. Try submitting it and see if luck is on our side.”

Meng Shaojie agreed and then used the Dark Star Ketu technique to immerse his consciousness into the dark-side universe of the Heavenly Book.

He left a message for Lei Jun, awaiting a response.

Lei Jun saw the message, pondered briefly, then agreed to Meng Shaojie’s request.

After the two arranged a meeting place, Lei Jun informed his senior sister, Xu Yuanzhen, “Senior Sister, I plan to trade the Haoran Radiance you gave me with this young man.”

Xu Yuanzhen replied casually, “Do as you please.”

Lei Jun: “Are you interested in this Twenty-Eight Rhythms of the Constellations?”

Xu Yuanzhen: “Not particularly. We can discuss it when I return to the mountain later.”

She had no intention of returning to Mount Longhu anytime soon, planning instead to continue traveling.

On one hand, she was searching for any traces left by Rong Guangchen. On the other, as usual, she was simply wandering wherever she pleased.

In fact, Xu Yuanzhen was currently in the Beiguang Mountain region, where Rong Guangchen had previously suppressed Wang Xuan.

Also present were Elder Lü Jinduan and others from the Pure Yang Palace.

Everyone was familiar with Xu Yuanzhen’s ways, so Lü Jinduan and his group turned a blind eye to her roaming around Beiguang Mountain.

Lei Jun, on the other hand, had no intention of showing himself, wanting to completely sever any perceived connection with Chen Donglou’s recent appearance.

After ending his conversation with Xu Yuanzhen, Lei Jun set off for his meeting with Meng Shaojie.

Given the recent incidents involving Rong Guangchen and the Heavenly Palace’s talisman decree, Lei Jun was even more cautious this time, concealing his movements to avoid being caught in a potential Tang imperial court trap.

Though Xiao Chunhui had not made any particular moves against him, making Lei Daozhang seem like he was overthinking things and playing mind games with thin air, Lei Jun held firm to his principle: better safe than sorry. He paid no attention to the other party’s actions, focusing solely on maintaining his cover.

With the jade tablet in hand, Lei Jun found a secure and secluded place to study the mysteries within the Twenty-Eight Rhythms of the Constellations.

Neither Meng Shaojie’s patron, Xiao Chunhui, nor the Empress, Zhang Wantong, were careless in their dealings.

This Twenty-Eight Rhythms of the Constellations was indeed a genuine relic of the ancient Talismanic Branch.

Lei Jun sealed off an entire mountain area with his Breath-Taking Flag and quietly listened to the resonant chants.

At the same time, the Profound Illusory Mirror, another relic from the ancient Talismanic Branch, hovered above Lei Jun’s head. The bright side of the mirror turned toward him, and its light seemed to solidify in midair.

The chants, too, seemed to take tangible form.

The mirror’s glow resembled the cosmos, while the chants manifested as the Twenty-Eight Constellations, twinkling brilliantly within the vast celestial sphere.

Lei Jun gazed at the luminous constellations while recalling the grand celestial river he had witnessed at the Ten Thousand Methods Sect Altar when offering two talismanic decrees in sacrifice to the heavens.

Comparing the two, he saw a star map slowly taking shape before him.

The map guided him through shifting voids, yet its final destination remained shrouded in mist.

“Three Enclosures, Twenty-Eight Constellations… Does this mean the star map is still incomplete?” Lei Jun mused.

He continued his observations, memorizing the various patterns before dispersing the map.

All that remained in the air was the deep, ancient melody of the chants.

Lei Jun now held another item—a white jade decree tablet.

This, too, came from Meng Shaojie—or rather, from the Tang imperial court—as another ancient Talismanic Branch artifact.

Lei Jun weighed it in his hand, lost in thought for a long time.

When he finally snapped back to reality, he waved his hand, halting the chanting.

He stored both the jade tablet and decree tablet away.

Beyond its potential connection to the Heavenly Palace’s secrets, the Twenty-Eight Rhythms of the Constellations held immense value for cultivators of the Talismanic Branch.

Of course, due to shifts in Daoist law over time, there were differences that modern cultivators would need to carefully study.

Overall, it aided Lei Jun’s cultivation, though it wasn’t as pivotal as the Eight Sceneries Wind.

Its primary value lay in deepening his understanding of the Life Canon and the Doumu Star God Apparition.

Using it as a foundation, Lei Jun attuned himself to the celestial stars, further contemplating the Great Celestial Jade.

He wasn’t disappointed. The Twenty-Eight Rhythms of the Constellations might be even more useful to someone else.

“Junior Brother, if you have time, head down the mountain.” Lei Jun contacted Chu Kun, “I have something good for you.”

The brothers had long grown accustomed to sharing resources and looking out for each other.

Upon hearing this, Chu Kun immediately set off. Receiving the jade tablet from Lei Jun, he was pleasantly surprised. “Whoa, this is indeed amazing! Thanks, Senior Brother!”

Like Lei Jun, Chu Kun had an acquired physique known as the Celestial Constellation Sacred Physique.

His cultivation often relied on the power of the stars, making the Twenty-Eight Rhythms of the Constellations particularly beneficial to him.

“To preserve its Dao essence, I haven’t altered anything. But keep in mind that Daoist law has changed over time—our sect’s teachings today differ greatly from ancient ones,” Lei Jun reminded him.

Chu Kun nodded repeatedly. “Got it, Senior Brother. Don’t worry.”

Lei Jun nodded in satisfaction. “Good. Take this back to the mountain for secluded cultivation. It’s yours now—do with it as you see fit. I’ve already memorized the Dao essence, so I can discuss it with Senior Sister later.”

Chu Kun: “Senior Brother, aren’t you returning with me?”

His expression turned serious. “Are you heading to the Southern Wasteland to rendezvous with Master?”

And so, while the entire Tang Dynasty was in upheaval, events continued unfolding in different places, watched closely by many across the land.

Sangjie Shangren nodded in contemplation, remaining silent.

Longjia Shangren, however, sighed with some regret. “The south may be desolate, and the people ignorant, but it’s not necessarily a bad place. Unfortunately, with the sudden return of the Nine Li people to the mortal world, the situation has become much more complicated.”

Sangjie Shangren responded calmly, “Indeed. The Earth Sea is shrouded in mystery, even Xumi has little concrete information about it. Now that the Nine Li are reappearing, we must proceed with utmost caution.”

In other words, they would let the Great Tang Dynasty or some other faction take the lead in probing the situation before making their own move.

The timing of the Xumi Vajra Division’s arrival in the western regions of the Great Tang was uncertain—whether it was fortunate or not remained to be seen.

The Mortal Dao Nation was entangled with the legendary Heavenly Court.

Meanwhile, the southern wilderness saw the resurgence of the Nine Li.

From a negative perspective, both the Great Nine Li Shamans and those attempting to reconstruct the Heavenly Court’s Celestial Bureaucracy in the mortal world were formidable adversaries to Western Buddhism.

Unlike their interactions with the Tang imperial family, which could be approached gradually through infiltration, the conflicts with the Mortal Dao Nation, the Great Nine Li Shamans, and the dominant Confucian tradition were fundamentally irreconcilable. These were their true, existential foes.

However, matters always had two sides.

It was precisely because of this complex situation that Western Buddhism, despite its rise, would not immediately become the common enemy of all.

This gave them the time and space needed to follow their established strategy—gaining a foothold in the Great Tang through more subtle, non-confrontational means.

From a certain perspective, simply dragging things out indefinitely might actually be in their favor… Sangjie Shangren thought to himself.

Success depended not only on strategy but also on strength.

And opportunity.

“For now, we must not act rashly. We will maintain outward appearances with all factions while secretly stirring up conflicts among them to gauge their strengths and weaknesses.”

Sangjie Shangren continued, “However, that does not mean we will sit idly by. Apart from strengthening our ties with the Tang imperial court, there is one particular matter we can start addressing.”

Abbot Suoyang and Longjia Shangren exchanged a glance, immediately understanding. “The White Lotus Sect?”

The Great Void Temple had suffered devastating losses, with rumors suggesting that Abbot Yuanmie had been forced to retreat overseas with the remnants of his followers.

Their current whereabouts were highly elusive, making it difficult for Western Buddhism to act against them.

Meanwhile, another heterodox Buddhist sect, long hidden in the shadows, had begun to reveal more clues, making them a more tangible target.

“Yes, the White Lotus Sect.”

Sangjie Shangren explained, “We just received word from our division that members of the White Lotus Sect have appeared in the Southern Wasteland. I intend to investigate—hopefully, we can uncover more leads.”

The White Lotus Sect was officially declared a treasonous faction by the Great Tang government.

Yet, despite their shared status as rebels, they had little common ground with groups like the Yellow Heaven Sect, the Great Void Temple, or even the Mortal Dao Nation.

From the perspective of Western Buddhism, the White Lotus Sect was another heretical faction.

Striking against the White Lotus Sect aligned with their own objectives while also giving them common ground with the Tang government. Moreover, the White Lotus Sect had fewer external allies, making them an ideal target at this time.

“Suoyang, return to the monastery and report on our northward mission. Longjia, come south with me,” Sangjie Shangren instructed.

Neither Suoyang nor Longjia had any objections.

Sangjie Shangren then adopted a more serious expression and added, “Although the Tang Zen tradition is currently weak, we must not underestimate it. The spiritual energy surge in the mortal realm is unpredictable, and changes may come unexpectedly…”

Suoyang and Longjia were both momentarily solemn upon hearing this.

Since the return of the Xumi Vajra Division, the Vajra Monastery had been reintegrated into their fold. With firsthand experiences and exposure to more information, they had come to realize that many so-called myths were, in fact, real.

Xumi itself was one such example.

And so were Shambhala and Avīci.

Cangzhou.

The Ye Clan of Jinzhou, once forced from their ancestral homeland, had relocated their entire lineage here, reestablishing their foundation.

The visible aspects of their ancestral land and ancestral shrine were quickly rebuilt.

However, the continuation of their scholarly lineage and the solidification of their new foundation was not something that could be achieved in just a few years or even a decade.

The newly founded Ye Clan of Cangzhou still required the passage of time to accumulate its strength.

Amidst the ever-changing tides of the Great Tang, Cangzhou's Ye Clan had kept a low profile in recent years, quietly recuperating.

Within their ancestral estate, Ye Wei, the new clan leader, sat at the head of the hall.

Yet, given the turbulent times and their unique circumstances, he did not feel as though he held true authority. Instead, he felt as though he was walking on thin ice.

His son, Ye Feishan, was precociously mature. In recent years, he had assisted his father and grandfather in handling clan affairs, his demeanor growing increasingly steady.

“Chen Yi has gone overseas,” Ye Feishan reported.

Ye Wei nodded. “Continue monitoring developments regarding the so-called Mortal Dao Nation.”

Ye Feishan acknowledged the order. “Yes, Father.”

Though the Ye Clan had been forced to relocate from Jinzhou to Cangzhou due to the actions of Tianshi Mansion, the emergence of the Mortal Dao Nation had quickly become an even greater concern for them.

A nation founded upon the Dao was not only a direct challenge to the Great Tang but also a severe threat to the Confucian tradition’s standing as the dominant intellectual authority.

“The Southern Wasteland’s situation is now confirmed—there are new movements among the Nine Li people, more audacious than before,” Ye Feishan added.

Ye Wei nodded and instructed, “Go to Youzhou and report everything to your grandfather.”

Although Ye Wei handled the clan’s daily affairs, such a major issue still required consultation with the former patriarch, Ye Moquan.

Ye Feishan bid farewell to his father and immediately set out for Youzhou.

Ye Moquan, the old patriarch of the Ye Clan, had remained in Youzhou ever since the great battle years ago, recovering in seclusion at Prince Zhao’s residence.

At present, he no longer showed any signs of the weakness he had suffered after that battle.

After quietly listening to Ye Feishan’s report, he did not respond immediately.

Only after a long silence did he finally ask, “Feishan, in your view, what is most essential to the survival of our clan’s legacy?”

Ye Feishan answered without hesitation, “Bloodline and scholarship.”

Ye Moquan: “No, it is people.”

Ye Feishan lifted his head to look at his grandfather. “Grandfather…”

Ye Moquan: “We are living in an era of great upheaval. The continuation of our clan must be approached with utmost caution and multiple contingencies.”

His expression remained calm, almost serene. “Scholarship and reputation are important, but above all else, it is people who matter most.”

Ye Feishan spoke softly, “Are you referring to Uncle Fifteen?”

His fifteenth uncle was Ye Dongming, an elder of the Shushan Sect.

“That is merely one example, not the entirety of it,” Ye Moquan replied.

Ye Feishan: “Understood, Grandfather.”

Ye Moquan nodded lightly.

For a moment, the room fell into silence.

Ye Feishan had noticed that his grandfather had been spending more and more time in deep thought.

The shifting tides of the Great Tang were changing so rapidly that even his grandfather had to tread carefully…

“How is the situation in the capital?”

After a long pause, Ye Moquan finally spoke again.

Ye Feishan: “There have been only minor movements in Qingzhou and Suzhou. His Highness the Crown Prince is handling matters steadily, neither overstepping nor falling short.”

Ye Moquan remarked, “In the current climate, doing neither too much nor too little is the wisest course of action.”

Ye Feishan nodded in agreement. “His Majesty remains in the old capital, refusing to return. The Crown Prince rules in his stead from the imperial capital, but who’s to say this isn’t a trap—an invitation into the urn?”

Ye Moquan: “Let His Majesty plot as he pleases, so long as we are given time.”

Ye Feishan: “Yes.”

Meanwhile, Lei Jun, after parting ways with his junior brother Chu Kun, contacted his master, Yuan Mobai.

Yuan Mobai was in the Southern Wasteland, though he had not recklessly approached the vicinity of the Nine Li Secret Realm. Instead, he was closely monitoring the spread of the Black Mist.

Lei Jun and Yuan Mobai agreed to meet at a place called Gaowei Mountain in the Southern Wasteland.

As Lei Jun journeyed southward, leaving the borders of the Great Tang and entering the Southern Wasteland, something unexpected occurred—the Light Sphere in his mind suddenly flickered, revealing a string of characters:

"A gathering of calamities, blood soaks the Southern Wasteland. The secret of mercy—fortune or misfortune lies in your own hands."

Immediately after, four fortune omens emerged from the Light Sphere.

Lei Jun read through them, his brows arching slightly:

1. Moderate-Moderate Omen: Travel to Gaowei Mountain via Yutian Grotto, Youning Lake, or Dunjing Valley. No additional gains, no losses—a neutral path.
2. Moderate-Moderate Omen: Travel to Gaowei Mountain via Yutian Grotto. A chance to obtain a Fifth-Grade Opportunity, though potential turmoil lies ahead—proceed with caution.
3. Lower-Moderate Omen: Travel to Gaowei Mountain via Youning Lake. A chance to obtain a Sixth-Grade Opportunity, but the journey is fraught with danger—extreme caution required.
4. Lower-Bad Omen: Travel to Gaowei Mountain via Dunjing Valley. A chance to obtain a Fifth-Grade Opportunity, but deadly disasters await—no escape, certain death.

…A Lower-Bad Omen at my current cultivation level? Lei Jun thought, frowning slightly.